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Foul play suspicions raised in Illinois woman's alleged suicide in Texas jail Foul play suspicions raised in Illinois woman's alleged suicide in Texas jail
(35 minutes later)
A Chicago-area woman who was about to start a new job at her alma mater Prairie View A&M University was found dead in a Texas jail, in what authorities say was a suicide. A Chicago-area woman who was about to start a new job at her alma mater Prairie View A&M University was found dead in a Texas jail on Friday in what authorities say was a suicide.
The Texas Rangers are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Sandra Bland, after family, friends and activists insist the 28-year-old would not have hurt herself and suspect foul play. But tThe Texas Rangers are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Sandra Bland, after family, friends and activists insisted the 28-year-old would not have hurt herself and said they suspected foul play.
Police in Waller County pulled over the car of Bland, a black woman from a Naperville, Illinois, after making an improper lane change on Friday. During the stop, she was eventually arrested for “assault of a public servant”.Police in Waller County pulled over the car of Bland, a black woman from a Naperville, Illinois, after making an improper lane change on Friday. During the stop, she was eventually arrested for “assault of a public servant”.
But a video shot by a bystander purportedly showing Bland’s arrests potentially contradicts this charge.But a video shot by a bystander purportedly showing Bland’s arrests potentially contradicts this charge.
In the video, two officers on top of her are restraining Bland to the ground, and she can be heard yelling: “You just slammed my head into the ground. Do you not even care about that? I can’t even hear.” In the video, two officers restrain Bland to the ground, and she can be heard yelling: “You just slammed my head into the ground. Do you not even care about that? I can’t even hear.”
The arrest of #SandraBland was recorded. I hear her saying the officer slammed her head on the ground. pic.twitter.com/BypLQuQjM4The arrest of #SandraBland was recorded. I hear her saying the officer slammed her head on the ground. pic.twitter.com/BypLQuQjM4
As the police pulled Bland into a squad car, she acknowledged the bystander videotaping the interaction: “Thank you for recording. Thank you. For a traffic signal … slammed me into the ground and everything.”As the police pulled Bland into a squad car, she acknowledged the bystander videotaping the interaction: “Thank you for recording. Thank you. For a traffic signal … slammed me into the ground and everything.”
Online county records show that she was brought to the Waller County jail on Friday and was to be released Monday on $5,000 bail. Online county records show that she was brought to the Waller County jail on Friday and was to be released on Monday on $5,000 bail.
The morning of her release, she was served breakfast around 7am and spoke to a staff member shortly after about making a phone call. Two hours later she was found dead by another female jailer. The morning of her release, she was served breakfast around 7am and spoke to a staff member shortly after about making a phone call. Two hours later she was found dead by a jailer.
CPR was performed immediately, but she was pronounced dead shortly afterwards, according to the Chicago Tribune.CPR was performed immediately, but she was pronounced dead shortly afterwards, according to the Chicago Tribune.
An autopsy performed on Tuesday found that the cause of death was self-inflicted asphyxiation.An autopsy performed on Tuesday found that the cause of death was self-inflicted asphyxiation.
But as news of her death has spread, so too has suspicion.But as news of her death has spread, so too has suspicion.
The hashtag #JusticeforSandy emerged on social media to raise awareness around her death, with many family members using it to state that they do not believe Bland would commit suicide the day she was to be released from jail. The hashtag #JusticeforSandy emerged on social media to raise awareness around her death, with many family members using it to state that they do not believe Bland would kill herself the day she was to be released from jail.
An activist-led rally outside the Waller County Jail is tentatively schedule for 17 July. An activist-led rally outside the Waller County jail is tentatively schedule for 17 July.
Waller County district attorney Elton Mathis, who said he had no information to think Bland’s death wasn’t a suicide, said Bland had traveled from Illinois to start a new job in Texas.Waller County district attorney Elton Mathis, who said he had no information to think Bland’s death wasn’t a suicide, said Bland had traveled from Illinois to start a new job in Texas.
Mathis said the Texas Rangers would conduct a thorough investigation. He said the Rangers’ arrival is “typical protocol” for when someone dies in custody.Mathis said the Texas Rangers would conduct a thorough investigation. He said the Rangers’ arrival is “typical protocol” for when someone dies in custody.
“If I receive information that there’s something nefarious going on, or foul play, we will certainly get to the bottom of that,” he told the Chicago Tribune. “I understand there’s some disbelief among some friends and family that she would do this to herself. That’s why it’s very important that the Texas Rangers be allowed to conduct a thorough investigation.”“If I receive information that there’s something nefarious going on, or foul play, we will certainly get to the bottom of that,” he told the Chicago Tribune. “I understand there’s some disbelief among some friends and family that she would do this to herself. That’s why it’s very important that the Texas Rangers be allowed to conduct a thorough investigation.”
According to her social media presence, Bland recently became vocal around issues of police violence affecting black communities in America, with her Facebook profile picture stating: “Now legalize being Black in America.” According to her social media presence, Bland recently became vocal around issues of police violence affecting black communities in America, with her Facebook profile picture stating: “Now legalize being black in America.”
In January 2015, she began video-blogging under the name #SandySpeaks in hopes of starting a “dialogue” with youth whose voices she found to be absent in media discussion of police violence affecting black communities.In January 2015, she began video-blogging under the name #SandySpeaks in hopes of starting a “dialogue” with youth whose voices she found to be absent in media discussion of police violence affecting black communities.
“It’s time y’all. This thing I am holding in my head it is quite powerful,” she said in her inaugural #SandySpeaks video. “Social media is powerful. We can do something with this.”“It’s time y’all. This thing I am holding in my head it is quite powerful,” she said in her inaugural #SandySpeaks video. “Social media is powerful. We can do something with this.”
“If we want to change, we can do something about [it],” she continued.“If we want to change, we can do something about [it],” she continued.